Figure and hockey skate sharpening by Rich@TheRink, using fixed-wheel sharpening, edge-level checks, microscopic inspection and workshop-developed measurement tools.
TheRink keeps regular sharpening accessible through the Cambridge Ice Arena Price Promise — so local skaters can maintain their blades properly without compromising on care.
From £8.50
From £12.00
From £16.00
Our regular sharpening price is kept accessible as part of our work with Cambridge Ice Arena. It is not a cut-down or automated budget service.
Regular sharpening still uses the Rich@TheRink process: fixed-wheel sharpening, blade-condition checks, edge-level checking, microscopic inspection and care to preserve the blade profile.
The lower price reflects the arena price promise, regular skater support and workshop efficiency — not a lower standard of work. New blades, damaged blades, reconditioning and specialist diagnostic work are priced separately because they take more time and material.
Need professional ice skate sharpening in Cambridge? TheRink sharpens figure skates and hockey skates at Cambridge Ice Arena using a quality fixed-wheel sharpening machine, microscopic inspection and our own measurement tools to produce level, accurate edges.
Drop your skates at Cambridge Ice Arena, pay online once your service is confirmed, and collect them when the work is complete. Your skates stay on site at the arena, making it easy to drop them after one session and collect before your next.
TheRink provides complete support for every skater — from sharpening, servicing and repairs to fitting, equipment advice, skate records and progression support.
A local sharpening service for skaters who want more than a quick edge.
We check the condition of your blades, sharpen with care, and help you understand whether the issue is sharpness, hollow choice, blade condition, or previous sharpening quality.
Skate sharpening is not just about making the blade feel sharp. A good sharpening should produce level edges, preserve the shape of the blade, remove as little steel as practical, and identify problems such as rust pockets, uneven edges or damaged sections before they affect your skating.
At TheRink, each sharpening is approached as a technical skate service rather than a quick pass over the wheel. We sharpen figure skates and hockey skates at Cambridge Ice Arena using a full fixed-wheel machine, microscopic inspection and our own measurement tools to check edge accuracy along the blade.
If your skates feel inconsistent, draggy, unstable, too sharp, not sharp enough or different from one foot to the other, the issue may not simply be “needing a sharpen”. It may be edge level, hollow choice, blade condition or previous sharpening quality. We can inspect the blades and sharpen them appropriately.
For more detail on figure skate blades, see our figure skate sharpening service.
The cost is determined by the amount of time and materials required for the very best finish; new blades often come with a factory grind only good for trying the skates on the ice to determine if the fit is correct, and often need more work to ensure level and to the correct depth. Skates that have excessively damaged blades (rust or significant edge damage) require a great deal more work. In addition, different blade styles require more specialist tools to ensure an accurate level edge.
| Regular Blades | No additional charge |
| Revolution Blades (figure skating) | +£0.50 |
| Matrix and Blade.Science | +£1.50 |
| Express Service | +£2.00 |
Skates that are maintained regularly usually need less corrective work, remove less steel and take less time to return to a clean, accurate edge.
To encourage good blade care, regular skaters can access a lower maintenance rate when their skates are sharpened within two months of the previous sharpening. This rewards good maintenance — it does not change the sharpening process.
When you drop your skates you'll join the queue. We have the option of while you wait (in person), or express sharpening (jump the queue) for a surcharge. When we cannot take in any more skates due to our storage being full, you can still make use of while you wait service, but priority sharpening is not available.
In addition to arranged While You Wait service, we also offer sharpening by post. Please ask us for details.
New blades out of the factory or shop typically have a very basic grind and in our experience often not level - sharpening new blades takes longer and consumes more materials.
Skates that have become rusty or with damaged edges need extra care and attention - a lot more time and materials.
If you're not sure whether your blades need new blade sharpening or reconditioning please write a note on the order form for us to contact you specifically with our determination.
We use a quality fixed-wheel machine with perfectly sized diamond conditioning roll and our own developed microscopic inspection and measurement tools and software to give your skates that extra special treatment. Our set up means:
There's a lot of hype about Sparx sharpening machines. We'd like to address a few things:
You'll need to sharpen your skates 160 times before you start saving money with Sparx.
At current retail prices, Sparx machines costs over £1,000, and each ring (good for around 40 sharpenings) is around £67.
Comparatively, sharpening at TheRink costs £8.50 per sharpening.
The break-even point between the two is around 160 sharpenings.
But you also miss out on professional expertise!
When you have your skates sharpened by someone who truly understands the mechanics of both blades and sharpening machines, you get unrivaled experience resulting in the best outcome. Being able to counteract the effects of bent blades, nicks, misaligned equipment and understanding blade profiling, you will consistently get better results from a seasoned skate engineer, such as at Rich@TheRink.
If you're thinking of getting a Sparx, borrowing someone else's Sparx, paying an individual to sharpen your blades on their Sparx, or offering skate sharpening using a Sparx machine, consider the following:
Avoid these issues - have them sharpened professionally.
While home-sharpeners offer convenience, it's not as convenient - why?
Experience - quality - advice - and all the other services required to service your boots to a professional standard.
Sometimes we become very busy and it takes slightly longer to sharpen your boots. Your boots never leave Cambridge Ice Arena - you can collect them for skating and drop them back without losing your place in the queue.
Regular skate sharpening starts from £8.50. New blade sharpening starts from £12.00, and blade reconditioning starts from £16.00. Sharpening is free with the purchase of a complete skate or blade from TheRink. Additional VIP discounts may also apply.
Yes. We sharpen both figure skates and hockey skates at Cambridge Ice Arena. Different blade types need different handling, so we check the blade condition, edge level and sharpening requirements before work starts.
Yes. You can drop your skates at Cambridge Ice Arena for sharpening and collect them once the work is complete. Your skates stay on site at the arena, making it convenient to drop them after one session and collect before your next.
Usually, yes. New skates often arrive with a basic factory grind, but that does not always mean the edges are level, the hollow is right for the skater, or the blade is ready for proper use. We check new blades and sharpen them so they are suitable for skating.
We use a quality fixed-wheel sharpening machine, microscopic inspection and our own measurement tools to check edge accuracy along the blade. We also look for rust pockets, uneven edges, damaged sections and previous sharpening issues before deciding how much work is needed.
In many cases, yes. Light rust, small edge damage and uneven previous sharpening can often be improved through careful sharpening or reconditioning. If the blade is badly damaged or unsafe, we will explain the issue before carrying out unnecessary work.
Your skates may need sharpening if they feel slippery, inconsistent, draggy, unstable, difficult to stop on, or different from one foot to the other. The issue is not always simple bluntness; it can also be edge level, hollow choice, blade condition or previous sharpening quality.
If you know your preferred hollow, let us know when booking or dropping off your skates. If you are unsure, we can advise based on your skating level, discipline, weight, blade type and what you want to feel on the ice.
From £8.50
From £12.00
From £16.00